In vivo morphometric analysis of inflammatory condylar changes in rat temporomandibular joint

Objective: Injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) causes acute swelling around the joint and subsequent morphological alterations in the condyle. We aimed to evaluate changes in the three-dimensional architecture of the condyle induced with CFA. Materials and methods: The CFA was injected into the unilateral TMJ of rats and morphological changes in the condyle were assessed repeatedly for 14 days by in vivo micro-CT. Results: Osseous abnormalities of condyle were first observed at 3-5 days after CFA injection on the tomographic images, and the condylar deformation became more obvious thereafter. Among 12 condyles examined at 14 days postinjection, osteophytosis was observed in all of the specimens and bone erosion coexisted in five condyles. None of the saline-treated condyles showed architectural changes. Significant changes were detected in the mesiolateral and rostrocaudal widths of the CFA-treated condyles at 10-14 days postinjection (P < 0.01). The extent of both condylar bone formation and resorption was greater in the CFA-injected TMJs than in saline-injected TMJs (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that CFA causes dynamic morphological changes in the condyle and that our experimental approach will provide new insights into the subacute inflammatory processes in the TMJ.